Are Major Retailers like Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and others really in trouble? If you pay any attention to the news, the are. Why? Because they are closing down stores, and in the case of Neiman Marcus, supposedly putting themselves up for sale. However no concrete claim is being made just yet.

What is hitting the news is that this is all about a “soft economy.” Is it really? Are we just being introduced to another “flame” geared to scare the daylights out of all of us? Well, here’s a no nonsense

look at what has been coming for some time, or at least as I see it.

Where did you do half or more of your shopping last year? How about for Christmas. Did you go to the Malls? Or did you go online to Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Macy’s, or any number of other major retailers? Of course you did! Why is that?

Tell Me It Ain’t So!

From a purely utilitarian point of view, all the hassle of traffic, bodies, items sold out, would be just a few of the logical reasons. Add to that, who can be unhappy having UPS, FEDEX or any delivery service showing up at your door with any of the items you’re looking for? Really!

Sitting at your computer, viewing a full color display of any item you want, with the ability to even comparative shop prices. In addition the chance to read and sift through customer reviews about the items you are interested in. Discovery that returns are heavy, not as advertised, smaller than the ad photo, among many other comments save you the “return” hassle after the fact.

Then there are the potential returns. Have you had the experience of having those same delivery services pick up your return at your door, or simply taking the box of goods to the nearest drop off point with no questions asked? Once more, avoiding lines in the store, the traffic, and the relief of doing it in comfort. So do you think this has any impact on sales in the Malls? That’s sort of asking if you like Pizza…which by the way gets delivered to your door!

Wake up people! Is this really due to a soft economy, or simply a big change in the way we shop? Haven’t we seen this coming? Is it really a big surprise? Ice Cream from Cold Stone might continue to be sold on location, or taken out for home consumption. Don’t think they can’t figure out how to make that compulsive purchase just as appetizing online for home delivery as Pizza! The greater question might be what can’t be done online? Auto repair?

Well, in reality with mobile mechanics willing to come to your door or office location to do the work, even that is in question. Ahh…I have it. Dry cleaning. Wait…they pick up and deliver! What is it that can’t be delivered? Maybe a funeral service, but no bets there.

When you can cut out the overhead of a brick and mortar location, all the expense, where merchandise can be produced from a warehouse, food from a commissary, and all the fancy fixings required in a store simply aren’t necessary, imagine the cost savings.

Huge brands have been created online, and continue to grow. If you have any doubts, check out the programs on WOBI, short for World Of Business Ideas. They also have a Face Book page, https://www.facebook.com/wobi.en/, and a webpage, http://www.wobi.com. They offer a series of programs about startups, entrepreneurs, and so much more. The bottom line is you will see the change that is happening.

So I’m thinking that this is just another way for the “media moguls” to grab some headlines. There’s a chance the younger set won’t be too surprised. As to the “Boomers” and others it might initially shock their system. It’s just another change that even they may have been trying to ignore, subconsciously aware it was coming.

So there could be some prime real estate up for grabs, but who wants it? Unless of course it can be converted into warehouse space, or a giant commissary. WOBI clearly states that the percentages of people going into business for themselves from home, is climbing at not too surprising rates. Are you one? Will you be next? Are you ready?

Alan is retired and resides in Quito, Ecuador. Writing is a passion which has resulted in two eBooks thus far, with more in the works. Married 47 years with four sons and 13 grandchildren, provides potential grist for the mill! Alan is a charter "Boomer", a Viet Nam veteran, committed to roasting his own coffee and writes about whatever pops into his mind. He loves to build and ride recumbent bikes, play racquetball, writes almost daily, travels Ecuador, and talks to anything that does not move fast enough! The twinkle in his eye is a combination of the sun, and an active sense of humor.
His desire to encourage others to write is being answered through his articles on the Internet.